This could have been a really good film if only the makers had stuck to following the Burke and Hare characters. Their scenes were full of gallows humour and their rise from being body suppliers to murderers is well told. There is a lot of depth in their story; poverty, desperation, success and failure but also humour and celebration. Unfortunately there are many scenes in a brothel that spoil the mood of the film so what starts out as a fascinating and engrossing story (those woodcuts that illustrated the opening credits were atmospheric) is tarted up with needless sleaze. A movie with a split personality.
Burke and Hare are played faultlessly by Derren Nesbitt and Glynn Edwards (their best performances ever?) and are well supported by Yootha Joyce and Dee Shenderey as their wives. Harry Andrews is splendid too as the dubious Dr. Knox. Fred Wood played 'Gent at Market Stall in Top Hat' to the manner born.
It is a shame it is a film of two parts conflicting with each other. Not so much Burke and Hare then but more Jekyll and Hyde
Burke and Hare are played faultlessly by Derren Nesbitt and Glynn Edwards (their best performances ever?) and are well supported by Yootha Joyce and Dee Shenderey as their wives. Harry Andrews is splendid too as the dubious Dr. Knox. Fred Wood played 'Gent at Market Stall in Top Hat' to the manner born.
It is a shame it is a film of two parts conflicting with each other. Not so much Burke and Hare then but more Jekyll and Hyde